Following the theme Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow (UNWOMEN)” Christian Aid Bangladesh has organized a national level dialogue ‘Women's Café: Women working today for a sustainable tomorrow’ in Brac Inn Center on Wednesday.

Ms. Meher Afroz Chumki, Member of Parliament and Chairperson Standing Committee on Ministry of Women and Children Affairs was present as the Chief Guest. Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim, Dean, Faculty of Social Science, University of Dhaka, Mr. Charles WHITELEY, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh were present as special guests. Country Director of Christian Aid Bangladesh Mr. Pankaj Kumar gave the welcome speech.

Following this theme, 42 months long (Feb 2021 – July 2024) consortium project of Christian Aid, BANDHU, BLAST, Nagorik Uddyog, and WAVE foundation titled ‘Empowering Left behind Minority Communities to Effectively Participate in Development Process in Bangladesh (ELMC) project’ co-funded by European Union (EU) celebrated the day on 9th march in Brac Inn, Mohakhali. The project emphasizes intersectional vulnerability faced by the minority population in terms of gender, class, sexual orientation, physical ability etc.

The Dalit women, Ethnic Minority women, Women with disabilities (WWD), and Transgender women are especially targeted in this project to be empowered and included in the development process of the country as they are further behind in the process as found by our baseline and perception surveys as well. Christian Aid arranged “Women’s Café” an event to share the stories of challenges and achievements of women from all walks of life, especially from the marginalized communities to promote and advocate for their participation in the mainstream development process. The event was moderated by Umme Farhana Zarif Kanta, Director- Policy Advocacy and Human Rights, Bandhu, Social Welfare Society.